This week's roundup: Tank Mixing & Spray Timing, Dual Risk Dynamics, NSW town of Wentworth, Farmers Face a New Reality, and more updates. Plus, fresh listings, auction dates, and more from across Australian ag. Let's get into it →

Getting tank mixes right is one of the simplest ways to protect product performance, avoid compatibility issues, and ensure every pass across the paddock delivers value. Whether you’re applying herbicides, foliar nutrition, plant growth regulators, or biologicals, the fundamentals remain the same: clean water, correct order, stable pH, and good agitation. For Australian growers working across variable water quality, tight spray windows, and increasingly complex tank mixes, following a disciplined mixing sequence is essential.

Tank Mixing Order: Why Sequence Matters

A reliable rule of thumb is to add products from dry to wet, from heavy to light, and from least to most reactive. In practice, that means starting with clean water and conditioners, then moving through dispersible granules (WG, DG), wettable powders (WP), soluble liquids (SL), suspension concentrates (SC), emulsifiable concentrates (EC), and finishing with adjuvants or biologicals. This order prevents clumping, settling, foaming, and antagonism between chemistries — all common headaches in broadacre setups. It also ensures foliar nutrition products — including Active AgriScience Australia’s range are dispersed evenly, allowing them to integrate smoothly with herbicides, fungicides, and other foliar inputs used in broadacre rotations.

One of the advantages of using Active AgriScience foliar products in broadacre systems is the inclusion of INTRINSIC™, a proprietary plant‑bioactivation technology designed to support crop resilience under stress. When foliar nutrition is applied alongside herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides, crops can experience short‑term physiological pressure — often seen as slowed growth, transient yellowing, or reduced metabolic activity. INTRINSIC™ helps buffer this response by stimulating early metabolic pathways, improving nutrient assimilation, and supporting the plant’s natural stress‑mitigation mechanisms. This means crops maintain stronger photosynthetic activity and recover faster after exposure to crop protection chemistry. In practical terms, when Active Build, Active Flower, or Active Grainfill are included in a tank mix, INTRINSIC™ helps the plant stay “switched on,” reducing the downtime typically associated with herbicide or pesticide applications and supporting more consistent growth across broadacre cereals, canola, pulses, and fodder crops.

Timing is just as critical as order. Foliar nutrition and biological stimulants perform best when applied during periods of active plant uptake — typically early morning or late afternoon when stomata are open, and temperatures are moderate. Herbicides, on the other hand, often demand specific environmental windows to avoid volatilisation, drift, or reduced efficacy. Aligning these requirements means planning: checking Delta T, monitoring wind speed, and ensuring water rates are high enough to achieve coverage without compromising droplet size. For foliar products like Active Build, formulated for rapid leaf absorption, targeting cooler parts of the day maximises uptake and reduces the risk of leaf burn — especially in hay, silage, and cereal systems where crop quality and uniformity matter.

Finally, always conduct a jar test when working with unfamiliar combinations, and keep agitation running throughout mixing and spraying. As tank mixes become more complex across Australian broadacre systems, following a consistent mixing order and timing strategy ensures every product — from herbicides to foliar nutrition — performs as intended, protecting both yield and return on investment.

Here are the main highlights for some of Australia’s key commodities and economic influences this month. The full report covers the developments to watch in the upcoming weeks.

Wheat and barley: The USDA’s initial 2026/27 outlook signalled a tighter global grain balance, with lower cereal production and historically low corn stocks, supporting prices. Despite a late-May market pullback driven by macro factors and seasonal pressure, underlying fundamentals remain supportive, pointing to firmer prices ahead.

Canola: Global canola production is rising, but stronger crushing and biofuel demand are absorbing supplies and reducing exports. Prices remain supported as energy markets and policy continue to favour vegetable oils.

Beef: Cattle prices recover the losses over the last couple of months as rainfall across large parts of the country improves producer sentiment and the number of cattle through saleyards declines. High cattle inventory continues to support record production and export volumes.

Sheep: Lamb and mutton prices recovered after price drops in late April and early May. Prices continue to remain strong in light of low and declining stock numbers. New production data shows lamb carcass weights reached new records as strong prices encourage producers to grow lambs out longer.

Wool: Wool prices continue to rise in the face of declining supplies. The EMI rose 2% for the month, with Coarser microns seeing a larger rise. Ongoing limited supplies are expected to keep prices strong, with the potential for increased buying activity towards the end of the season to push prices higher.

Cotton: US cotton futures have eased back to the mid‑70s on improved weather across the US. With US weather conditions stabilising and Brazil exports strong, the market is shifting focus to Eastern Hemisphere supply risks due to a below-average monsoon forecast, supporting a broadly tighter global outlook.

Farm inputs: Input prices remain high and volatile, driven by energy markets, supply constraints, and policy restrictions. Rising costs are eroding farm margins and forcing demand rationing despite only temporary price relief.

Sugar: Sugar prices have declined recently due to oil market volatility and weaker ethanol economics in Brazil, with policy uncertainty shaping production decisions. While higher sugar output may pressure prices, weather risks in Asia, and rising biofuel demand could offer some support.

Dairy: Record whey prices continue to dominate global dairy market settings. Meanwhile, new season milk pricing in Australia and New Zealand has been announced and is mostly steady with 2025/26 prices, as a recovery in commodity values supports early price signals.

Consumer foods: Food inflation falls to its lowest level since December 2021, but consumers are not out of the woods. Meanwhile, consumer confidence remains in the doldrums.

Interest rate and FX: As forecast, the RBA raised the cash rate by 0.25ppts in May to 4.35% – equal to the previous cycle high. There were some further signs of economic slowdown in the month, and the RBA sent some signals that it may be nearing the end of the hiking cycle, but we are maintaining our forecast of an August hike.

Oil and freight: Oil prices fell on peace hopes in late May, but the Strait of Hormuz remains mostly closed, and a deal is proving elusive. RaboResearch has changed its baseline forecast for the strait to remain closed until September and raised Q3 and Q4 oil price forecasts to USD 120/bbl and USD 100/bbl.

In short:
The south-west New South Wales town of Wentworth was saved from flooding in 1956. Farmers used Ferguson TEA20 tractors to create levee banks to protect the town from the rapidly rising Murray and Darling rivers.

What's next?
Wentworth has set a record for the largest number of "little grey" Ferguson tractors at the same location.

The south-west New South Wales town of Wentworth is celebrating the ingenuity of a revolutionary tractor 70 years on from a flood that almost wiped it out.

The Ferguson TEA20 tractor, affectionately known as the "little grey", reshaped farming in many Australian communities in the 1940s and 1950s.

Small and lightweight, the little grey Fergie had a three-point rear linkage system, allowing farmers to place a variety of implements on the back.

Among the accessories was an earth scoop which could be lifted, tilted and dumped using the tractor's hydraulic system.

It was the system that would prove crucial in saving a town rapidly taking on water.

Sunraysia's most severe flood

Wentworth was once considered a potential location for Australia's capital.
It was where the Murray River peaked at 9.75 metres in 1956 during the second-largest flood in Australia's history.

Farmers were encouraged by authorities to abandon the area, but they had an ace up their sleeve.

Wentworth became a town fortified by the resolve of residents who refused to let the rising Murray and Darling rivers swallow it.

An army of little grey tractors sprang into action, quickly establishing clay levee banks to fight back against the unprecedented water levels.

Climbing, scooping and shifting the earth, the tractors were used around the clock to patch and strengthen the town-saving infrastructure.

Wentworth was ultimately saved from inundation, and the TEA20 Ferguson tractor earned its place in local folklore.

A memorial cairn stands proudly on the corner of the town's Adelaide and Adams streets, in tribute to the rallying cry "by God and by Fergie, we beat the flood".

Wentworth residents wanted to make history while marking 70 years since the victory.

During the town's flood rally on the 2026 King's Birthday weekend, it set a record for the largest gathering of little grey Fergies.

Owners brought 110 vintage tractors to town from across the district and beyond, with one model coming all the way from Hervey Bay in Queensland.

Australian Book of Records co-founder Helen Taylor said by setting the record, Wentworth continued to turn what could have been a negative into a positive.

"When they reflect on what could have been had the little Fergies not been able to be there to save the day, then it would have been a different story," Ms Taylor said.

This week, the biggest story in Australian agriculture isn't the weather — it's the growing gap between rising costs and shrinking margins.

Fresh industry forecasts released over the past week indicate that farm profitability is expected to come under significant pressure during the year ahead. Higher fuel prices, elevated fertiliser costs and increased finance expenses are forcing many producers to rethink how they operate and where they invest.

The impact is already being seen across cropping regions. Some growers are reducing wheat plantings and shifting toward crops that require less nitrogen fertiliser, while others are focusing on preserving cash flow rather than maximising production. Concerns around fertiliser availability and pricing remain a major talking point heading into the growing season.

At the same time, many farm businesses are adjusting to a higher interest rate environment. What worked financially two or three years ago may no longer be the most efficient structure today. As a result, more producers are reviewing existing loans, refinancing facilities and consolidating debt to improve cash flow and create greater certainty.

The mood across the sector isn't pessimistic — it's practical.

Australian farmers have always adapted to changing conditions, and this week is no different. The focus has shifted from chasing growth to protecting profitability, improving efficiency and maintaining flexibility in an increasingly unpredictable environment.

In response, Pay In Time Finance is helping farmers take a closer look at their existing lending structures, reduce repayment pressure where possible, unlock equity tied up in assets, and structure machinery and equipment finance around seasonal income patterns.

The farms that thrive over the next 12 months won't necessarily be the ones producing the most. They'll be the ones that manage costs, preserve cash flow, and stay one step ahead of changing conditions.

A new Victorian governance group has been tasked with increasing oversight of mineral sands projects.

Farmers, land experts and the resources sector will be represented on the newly established Mineral Sands Agricultural Land Restoration Working Group.

The group will seek to strengthen the requirements for agricultural land rehabilitation for proposed mines in Victoria's Wimmera Mallee.

It will feature representatives from the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF), the Minerals Council of Australia, Agriculture Victoria, Horsham Rural City Council, Yarriambiack Shire Council and local Catchment Management Authorities.

Incoming VFF president Ryan Milgate said growers had long called for independent oversight of mine proposals affecting agricultural land.

"For regions looking at having a lot of mining, there needs to be some accountability and some transparency around some of the claims being made," Mr Milgate said.

"A lot of the restoration or rehabilitation claims that have been made in the past are probably a little far-fetched and fanciful at times.

"To actually have some independent oversight around that will give everyone a lot more comfort going forward."

In October, the Federal Government granted major project status to Astron Corporation's Donald Rare Earth and Mineral Sands project in western Victoria.

Minerals Council of Australia Victorian Division executive director James Sorahan said mineral sands companies want farming communities to have input into their work.

"Rehabilitation is something that is part and parcel of what we do, so we want to make sure it works with regions, and we're all working together for the same outcome," Mr Sorahan said.

"These are strong farming areas, and that's something we want to protect, and mining is no threat to that."

Maintaining farm productivity

Horsham Rural City Council chief executive Gail Gatt described the working group as a step in the right direction toward improving rehabilitation guidelines.

Previous projects in the region had difficulty restoring land to pre-mine productivity levels.

Ms Gatt said the Wimmera Southern Mallee had some of the most productive agricultural land in the country.

"It's important that any mine footprint can be rehabilitated so that this productivity isn’t lost to future generations at the end of these projects," Ms Gatt said.

"This is essential to ensure food security into the future. 

"Ideally, mineral sands mining shouldn’t be at the expense of prime agricultural land, and until rehabilitation processes can ensure land can be restored to pre-mine productivity, it will be a challenge for proponents to build social licence," she said.

 The Five Customers Already in Your Phone Worth Calling This Week 

A practical reminder about the value of staying in touch. 

I was helping someone review their customer list recently. 

As we worked through it, a pattern started to emerge. A few names kept coming up. Good customers. People they knew well. In some cases, people they'd worked with for years. The problem was that they hadn't spoken to some of them in six months or more. 

As we kept talking, it became obvious that several of those relationships had simply fallen out of the regular rhythm of the business. 

By the end of the conversation, we had a short list of people worth calling.

I'd wager most businesses have a list like that. Usually, there are about five names on it.

Think about the customers who spent serious money with you last season. Maybe it was a large order, a major project, or a significant purchase.

In some cases, you may not have spoken to them since the work was completed.

You already know their operation. They already know how you work. A quick check-in is often enough to understand what's changed since the last time you spoke.

At some point, they enquired, asked questions, or requested a quote. For one reason or another, nothing came of it.

That doesn't necessarily tell you much about where they are today.

Businesses change direction. Priorities shift. Projects get delayed and then return to the top of the list months later. A conversation that went nowhere last year can be a very different conversation today.

Most business owners can point to work that arrived through word of mouth. What is less common is knowing exactly who is doing the recommending.

Some people mention your name regularly when opportunities come up. They introduce you to friends, customers, suppliers, or neighbours. Over time, those recommendations can add up to far more than most businesses realise.

It's worth knowing who those people are.

Every so often, something changes in a customer's operation.

They purchase another property. They expand. A son or daughter takes on more responsibility. The business starts heading in a slightly different direction.

Those moments often bring new questions and new decisions with them. They also tend to happen long before someone starts looking for suppliers, services, or advice.

You probably didn't make it through this list without a name coming to mind.

Someone you've worked with before. Someone you've been meaning to call. Someone you haven't spoken to in longer than you intended. Start there.

A Thought Worth Keeping 

The graphic above isn't a sales funnel.

It's a reminder that relationships rarely move in a straight line. Some drift into the background. Others become referral sources. Some come back into focus because circumstances change.

The common thread is usually contact. A short conversation can be enough to bring someone back into the orbit of your business.

Good customer relationships rarely disappear overnight. More often, contact just becomes less frequent until months have passed.

If that's a familiar problem, it's something the team works with businesses on every day.

[email protected] 

G’day REALM Readers,

Over the years, I've written a couple of stories about the legendary bucking bull Chainsaw, but recently I've had a stack of emails from readers asking if I could point them towards footage of Dave Johnston's famous ride. Given it's one of the most popular blogs we've ever published on RFTTEJOBS.com, I thought it was worth dusting off the story and sharing it again.

On 30 May 1987 in Tamworth, Australian rodeo history was made when Dave Johnston climbed aboard Chainsaw and completed what many regard as one of the greatest bull rides ever seen in this country. Chainsaw had developed a fearsome reputation and had bucked off hundreds of riders, remaining unridden until Johnston's remarkable 90-point ride.

Chainsaw's story is just as remarkable as the ride itself. Purchased as a young Brahman-cross calf from Sydney's Homebush Saleyards in May 1983 (see the blog, The Man Who Gave Us Chainsaw), he went on to win eight Australian Bucking Bull of the Year titles between 1987 and 1994, becoming the most famous bucking bull Australia has ever produced.

Sadly, the big fella passed away on Boxing Day 1996 at the age of 15. Living out his retirement near Yass, NSW, Chainsaw was humanely put to sleep after his ageing legs could no longer support him. Such was the respect he commanded that around 180 cowboys removed their hats and observed a minute's silence at a rodeo in Port Macquarie following news of his passing.

The image above was taken by Mike Kenyon showing Chainsaw getting Darren Brandenburg sideways at Boondall in 1989.

So whether you're a rodeo fan, a station hand, or simply someone who appreciates great Australian stories, Chainsaw's legacy still stands tall today. If you've never seen the footage of Johnston's historic ride, or you'd like to revisit one of the greatest yarns in Australian rodeo history, make sure you check out the full blog below...

GOING THE DISTANCE ON CHAINSAW

Hooroo for now,

Hooroo for now,
Simon Cheatham
Founder RFTTE - The Online Campfire
0417 277 488 | [email protected]

Robbie is definitely 'that guy!' He's even got his own cartoon character.